Preview: Repeat of "bizarre" Sochi medal haul unlikely for Netherlands

By Jesse Wieten

THE HAGUE, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Netherlands had their best Winter Olympics ever in Sochi, but although the country sends another strong speed skating squad to PyeongChang, a new medal record is "unlikely" according to former Dutch Olympic medalists Jochem Uytdehaage and Renate Groenewold.

Four years ago during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Netherlands captured a record 24 medals; eight gold, seven silver and nine bronze. The Dutch eclipsed their former record of 11 medals at the 1998 Nagano Games.

Not surprisingly for a skating nation, the Dutch clinched most of their medals in speed skating; they won a stunning total of 23 of the total 36 speed skating medals to be won, and one in short track. The question is if the Netherlands can repeat this medal fest during the forthcoming Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

"Sochi was bizarre," said the 41-year-old Groenewold. "Exceptional. In recent years we were not as dominant anymore, so I expect fewer medals. In Sochi everything fell into the right direction. We were in a flow. I was there as a coach and it was very special."

With the International Olympic Committee (IOC) having banned Russia's National Olympic Committee (NOC) from the Games in PyeongChang, some main speed skating rivals for the Netherlands are absent, which seems to make the job a little easier for the Dutch.

"Maybe it sounds strange, but I do not hope we will get as many medals as in Sochi," says the 41-year-old Uytdehaage. "It would not be good for the sport if one country wins so many medals again. I also think there will be more competition, especially from the Japanese women, like Nao Kodaira and Miho Takagi, and from Norway for instance. The question is how these Japanese women can cope with Olympic pressure. We have the experience," Uitdehaage said.

A total of 33 Dutch athletes will compete at the 2018 Olympics; 10 male speed skaters, 10 female speed skaters, 10 athletes in short track, including multiple medal candidate Sjinkie Knegt and Jorien ter Mors, who will participate in both speed skating and short track. Joining them will be three snowboarders and Kimberley Bos, the only Dutch competitor in skeleton.

Speed skater Sven Kramer is the main man, the star, of the Dutch squad. In PyeongChang he will be active in the 5,000m, the 10,000m, the team pursuit and the mass start. The 31-year-old will be hunting his third competitive gold in the 5,000m and his first gold in the 10,000m.

Since Turin 2006, Kramer has collected a total of three Olympic gold medals, two silvers and two bronze medals and he also has a record nine world championships and nine European Championships behind his name. Kramer is a celebrity in the Netherlands, an idol, and is considered to be one of the biggest Dutch sportsmen of all-time.

The peak of Uytdehaage's career was at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, when he won the gold medal in the 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters and silver in the 1,500 meter event. "I don't think anyone will do what I did in Salt Lake City," says Uytdehaage. "I am so proud. However, gaining golds in consecutive Games, like Kramer did, is even more difficult."

Groenewold participated at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics and won silver in the 3,000 meter event on both occasions. Her first silver medal felt like winning, her second like losing. She was beaten by rookie Ireen Wust in Turin.

"The 2006 Games was the first for Ireen," tells Groenewold. "We shared the same room and I remembered she was very nervous. I said: you are so young, your time will come, don't worry. Her time came earlier than expected. She beat me. [It was] the biggest disappointment of my career. It's all relative though. One-and-a-half years before these Games my father died. Looking back I am very proud of that medal."

The now 31-year-old Ireen Wust grew to be the most successful Dutch Olympian ever, with four gold, three silver and one bronze medal. In PyeongChang she will be there again, competing in the 1,000m, 1,500m, 3,000m and the team pursuit. "Ireen could surprise us all again," says Groenewold. "She knows how to peak at such an event."

The dominance of the Dutch in speed skating is not hard to explain. The best Dutch speed skaters are professionals and as a popular sport they have the support of major sponsors. "We have the knowledge, the coaches and the facilities," says Groenewold. "However, this could happen in other countries as well. Potentially a country like China could dominate the future if they also get the knowledge, the coaches and the facilities."

"The man behind the recent successes of the Japanese speed skaters is Dutch coach Johan de Wit," explains Uytdehaage. "Jeremy Wotherspoon (former Canadian sprinter) moved to Norway to coach the Norwegians. One can see a movement of knowledge. This is crucial for the sport. We need competing countries. That's better than Dutch dominance." Enditem